Volleyball: Clippers regain swagger to open postseason

PORTSMOUTH — There were times during the 2009 season that the Portsmouth High School volleyball team had perhaps lost its confidence.

Mike O'Neil

PORTSMOUTH — There were times during the 2009 season that the Portsmouth High School volleyball team had perhaps lost its confidence.

The Clipper swagger that had transformed them into a volleyball power and had carried them to eight straight tournament appearances was replaced by doubt.

"You know what, we're the defending state champions," said Portsmouth coach Chris Strobel. "There's an awful lot of pride on this team. From this point on, everyone is going to be gunning for us, and I think we're ready."

With game scores of 25-19, 25-20, and 25-9, the Clippers had the confident look of a defending champion as seventh-ranked Portsmouth opened the Division II tournament with a hard-fought 3-0 win over 10th-ranked Souhegan Thursday night at Stone Gymnasium.

"Souhegan played us tough tonight," said Strobel. "They had a lot more ball control. Their libero passed well, their attackers were more consistent. This was a good win for us."

Part of Portsmouth's confidence could have come from its own court, where the Clippers have now won 32-straight matches.

"We're seeded lower than what we're used to," said Portsmouth senior Rosa Drummond. "But we're still the defending state champions. We knew it was important to get a home game to get the playoffs started."

If the Clippers are going to return to the Division II title game, they are going to have to get past a familiar foe to do it, as Portsmouth (12-5) will travel to Gilford to face the second-ranked Golden Eagles in Saturday's quarter-final round.

Gilford downed neighboring Laconia 3-0 Wednesday to advance.

The Clippers split a pair of matches against the Golden Eagles this season, netting a 3-2 win on Sept. 11, before dropping a 3-1 decision in Gilford last week.

"We were there last week so we know what to expect," said Drummond. "This is the earliest we've ever played them in the tournament. It's different just because it won't be at Pinkerton."

It will be the sixth meeting between the two schools over the past two seasons. Since Portsmouth joined Division II this will be the fourth tournament meeting between the two schools, the last meeting coming in the 2008 semifinals.

"We have a ton of fun playing against Gilford," said Strobel. "They're well coached. They love volleyball. It will be intense, it will be exciting. They have a rocking gym up there, but at the same time, we can do it."

The loss ended a frustrating night for Souhegan, which had taken early leads in both games one and two.

After watching the Sabers take a 6-1 lead on a Margeaux Cannon ace, Portsmouth used four Rosa Drummond aces in an 8-2 run to take a 9-8 lead. After netting 19 aces in a 3-0 regular-season win over the Sabers, Portsmouth finished with 21 on Thursday, including nine from Drummond and six from Anna Genestreti.

"We have a pretty good service attack," said Strobel. "We like to use it to take them out of their offense and get the free balls."

Holding a slim 22-19 lead, a Kelsey Abrams (four kills) finish, followed by a pair of Drummond aces, gave the Clippers the 25-19 win.

"I thought we got a bit complacent," said Souhegan coach Wendie Joyal. "We got up early in both games and I thought we let them back in it, and against a team like Portsmouth, you can't do that."

Like they had done in game one, Souhegan jumped out early in game two, taking a 7-1 lead thanks to four Isabella Stuopis aces. It would carry that lead throughout, holding a 20-17 advantage before four Genestreti aces led an 8-0 run to take a 25-20 win.

"She's been a very consistent server for us," said Strobel. "She keeps the ball in the court, she plays good defense and when she's serving the ball like that, she gives us the opportunity to make plays."

With Souhegan seemingly deflated, Drummond finished off the Sabers with a sizzling game three. After three straight Emily Sellers aces gave Portsmouth an early 4-1 lead, a Drummond kill, followed by three aces, gave Portsmouth a commanding 9-2 lead.

Portsmouth's powerful inside pounder finished with seven of her game-high 15 kills in the final game as the Clippers cruised to a 16-point win.

"Her serve was great tonight," said Strobel. "She was playing confidently and was transitioning off the net very well. Rosa knows how to get it done, just like a lot of girls on this team. She's a senior now and when she smells blood, she's going to go after it. She wants another state championship."

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